Jake Wood and Jo Joyner
Jake Wood thinks Jo Joyner will return to 'EastEnders' within "a few years".
The actor, who plays Max Branning in the BBC One soap, has predicted his former on-screen wife - who quit her role as Tanya Jessop last year - will come back eventually.
Jo decided to leave the Walford-based soap after seven years to spend more time with her family and take on different acting roles.
Jake told Inside Soap magazine: "I don't think it will be for a few years at least. Personally, I'd love for Jo Joyner to come back as I always enjoyed Max and Tanya's relationship. But she's doing so well with other stuff.
"I joked that if she returned before three years were up, I'd leave! She needed a proper break, time to be a mum and pursue other things. But I look forward to the day that she and Tanya come back."
Jo, who now stars in Sky Living comedy 'Trying Again', recently claimed Tanya's numerous dramatic storylines left her feeling "drained".
She said: "It's tiring. The people in soap work so hard and the fans are so faithful. It's relentless.
"It's a great gig and I'm really grateful for my time there but it is a big machine. You're churning out 20-odd scenes a day, whereas on a normal drama you'd do five or seven."
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